ABOUT ME

“There’s an art to unbecoming—to failing so beautifully you have no choice but to reassemble your entire life into something more suited to your skin—something more surprising, and more hospitable. Failure isn’t the end of fortune, but its beginning. This is all a cycle. Temporary, transient. Gloriously so.” —Arabella Sicardi

Hi! My name is Hope England and I’m so glad you’re here. A little bit about me… I identify as a comedian, actress, trauma psychotherapist, group therapy practice owner at Psychsomatica, a non-profit entrepreneur and a radical dreamer, and revolutionary. I am also a pioneer of using improvisational comedy and humor as a tool to promote healing, build resilience and help navigate trauma and loss.

I am the founder, CEO, and Chief Laugh Ambassador at Humor for Hope, a Chicago based 501(c)3 that uses improvisational comedy to empower populations coping with the ongoing challenges of trauma, displacement, and illness. My most recent projects include bringing the healing power of Humor for Hope to Chicago Public Schools, Northwestern Hospital, Lurie Children's Hospital, and Comer Children's Hospital through programming and volunteering with pediatric patients. My work and innovation in the field of humor therapy has led to opportunities with Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the Karam House Refugee Camp on the Syrian border and to being a board member of Women Together Global.

I believe in the power of connection, comedy, community, kindness, and using my privilege to help dismantle oppressive systems and elevate others who have been ignored, silenced, and marginalized.

I have studied alternative forms of healing with Buddhist monks, Peruvian shamans, African drummers, Wild Mycologists, Sacred Feminine Elders and Sufi whirling dervishes. I hold my Bachelor’s in Writing and Producing for Television and Sitcoms and my Master’s in Clinical Counseling Psychology. I am a Comedy Studies graduate and former employee of The Second City.

I believe in living the questions, staying passionately curious, that a thing can travel anywhere just by holding still or being held and that a leaf of grass is no less the journey work of the stars. I have a wild love for the world, all sentient beings and I am a fierce crusader for equality, awakened action, and the transformational power of compassion. I have made it my mission to walk in truth and leave this world better than how I found it.

I hope you’ll join me.